1. aerofoil - a device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight. airfoil, control surface, surface. aileron - an airfoil that controls lateral motion.

What does the word aerofoil mean?

: a body (such as an airplane wing or propeller blade) designed to provide a desired reaction force when in motion relative to the surrounding air.

Why is it called an airfoil?

An airplane's wing has a special shape called an airfoil. The airfoil is shaped so that the air traveling over the top of the wing travels farther and faster than the air traveling below the wing. Thus, the faster moving air above the wing exerts less pressure than the slower moving air below the wing.